Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-06
FACTS ON IMMIGRATION.
Germany aud England Furnish 10 Per
Cent.-Charaeter of Immigrants.


The State Department at Washington
has lust issued thick volume containing
the reports of United States Consuls in re,
gard to foreign immigration. This timely
publication, which covers period of thir-
teen years, is the first comprehensive Off
eial collation. and arrangement of iniorma-
ton on the subject. Some Of the Consular
reports IN regard to emigration are OF
especial interest. But, as Secretary Bay
ard saws in the introduction, it Is almost
impossible to draw general conclusions
from the data, because the local aud tenn
porary circumstances which influence emf
grafton vary in so large degree. But 1t
is probable that the motive of emigration
Is much the same now as it has been from
the time when populations were first stir
red by the migratory impulse. namely, the
desire to escape evil conditions ut home
and the hope of securing happiness and
prosperity in new lands. As this country
affords the best prospect of gaining these
boons. it is not strange that the emigration
from Europe 10 the United States greatly
exceeds that 20 all other regions oil the
world.
Germany and England contribute about
40 per cent of the total immigration to
the United States. The utter failure Of
the German authorities to divert emigra-
ton into other channels is shown by the
fact that out Of 1i3, SO emigrants who
left Germany in 1884 139, 339 came to this
country, and there is no sign ola change
in the current. Consul General Raine, in
Berlin, estimated in his report, found in
this volume, that the number of emigrants
who lett Germany during the fifteen years
from ISL TO 1885 was about l,5OO,OO
and that OF this number LAPS, 900 made
their homes under the Stars and Stripes.
While the United Kingdom sends nu-
merous contribution to her numerous
colonies, the tide of emigration from Great
Britain to the United States is as strong as
ever
These reports show that the two coun-
tries contributing the largest immigration
also send the majority of skilled work
men. England's contribution OF skilled
labor consists mainly of engineers, miners,
iron and steel workers, spinners, and
weavers, and Germany OF carpenters,
smiths, bakers, butchers, saddlers, tailors,
brewers, etc. OF 1896, 4l6 immigrants
who have landed in this country since
1873, IL per cent, as the reports
show, had no occupation, while but 10
per cent. were skilled laborers. About
:}:a} per cent came under the description of
miscellaneous, and contained persons en-
gagged in all sorts of pursuits, from bankers
and merchants to cooks. A little more
than one-haif of per cent belonged tothe
learned professions and the arts. But more
than half Of the immigrants who are put
down IA having no occupation are women;
and when this allowance is made it will he
seen that the proportion Ot unskllled labor
ers that come to this country is not as large
as has been imagined.
These reports contain much other data in
regard to the character of the emigration
from each country that has contributed to
the population OF the United States. They
will do much 10 dispel the false notions 80
industriously propagated in regard. to the
new Corners from Europe. So far from con-
sisting of the dregs of European pOpula-
tons. rs is so frequently asserted in organs
of Know -Nothingism, the very large pro-
portion of them are strong and healthy
workers, and belong to the very same ele-
ments that have done so much to promote
the wealth and prosperity Of this country.
Without this emigration the soil of more
than one prosperous state at the TAR West
would he unturued b. the pillow to this
day.